How we match families

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Once you are approved as an adopter(s) we can start what we call the ‘matching process’. This is where we find the right family for each child(ren).

Your social worker will have been getting to know you really well during assessment and may have already started discussions with our family finding social workers, about children that may suit your family.

These internal discussions are a key method we use to find families for our children, as we aim to match our adopters with children within our agency as much as possible, although there is also a possibility you may be matched with children from other areas in England.

Your social worker will always be keeping an eye on those children coming through, and considering whether you could be the right match for that little person. They will stay in touch and discuss progress with you regularly during the matching stage, as we know it can be difficult waiting, however for most adopters currently the wait is very short.  Whether you wait a little while or are quickly approached about a child, please be assured that we will be working very hard to ensure that you and our children are matched quickly and effectively using a variety of methods. You will also be actively involved and have a voice in the decision to move forward with any match too.

Link Maker 

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Link Maker Logo


Link Maker is a website that is used by the majority of adoption agencies within the UK. It allows both prospective adopters and social workers for children who need to find their forever families the opportunity to create a profile. This profile allows both sides to get more information about why you may be a good match for that child and vice versa.

You will be given the opportunity to sign up to Link Maker during stage 2 of the approval process and you can look through children’s profiles yourself and express interest in any you feel may be a good match or ask your social worker to do that on your behalf.

Link Maker is only accessible to those who are registered with an adoption agency.

Adoption Activity Days

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children's entertainer making balloon animal


Activity Days are a fantastic opportunity for prospective adopters and children to meet in person and spend time together at a big fun day event.

The children are aware in an age appropriate way why they are attending the day but they see it as a big fun party with crafts, games, character visits, magic performers and even a present to take home. For adopters it’s a great way to meet lots of children, get to know them and see who you might click with. We often find it opens adopters’ minds in terms of the age, ethnicity and needs of a child (as well as whether you feel able to consider siblings) because you might feel a really good connection with a child or children who you might not have considered on paper.

These events are well organised and secure for everybody’s peace of mind.

We currently run a couple of these events each year together with other Regional and Voluntary Adoption Agencies across the North West.

There are also national events that you could attend on the rare occasion that a match closer to home is not achieved.

Activity Days are not right for every child or every adopter but your social worker will be able to discuss with you about what to expect, how you might feel on the day and whether it is the right forum for you.

Exchange Events

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giving information at exhibit

Exchange Events are where you come along to a venue, with your profile and social workers bring profiles, pictures and videos of the children they are family finding for. You can then exchange profiles and have discussions with the social worker (or other professionals in the child or children’s lives) to find out more about them and whether you may be a suitable match.

Children are not in attendance at these events.

We run a few of these a year internally for our own adopters and children. There are also regional/national events which you can attend.

Throughout the matching process you will be in contact with your social worker and other social workers from Adoption Now who will have open and honest conversations with you about your chances of being matched with a child(ren). We also hope you are open and honest with us and tell us when a match feels right or if it doesn’t.  A match with a child that doesn’t feel right for you will be right for another family, so you don’t need to worry about saying no.  Whilst we always need to prioritise what is right for the child(ren) we aim to make sure that our matches are right for everybody involved – if it’s not right for you, it won’t be right for the child.